RECENT POSTS: JUBILEE WRITER

You’ve worked hard and now a contract offer looms before you. The first book contract is the most exciting. So much so you might even sign it for free. But please, don’t. I’ve signed two so far and I did my research first. Both contracts were with reputable small publishing houses. That helped me feel […]

This is a longer than normal post for me. But it’s well-worth the time to read. Today is the release date for Australian author Tamar Sloan’s YA novel Make it Count. YA readers are going to want to add this novel to their must-read list. Welcome to Jubilee Writer, Tamar. Congratulations on your new release. […]

I’m done. I finished my proposal for the sequel to my Historical Romance Secrets & Charades. This is the fourth book I’ve written a proposal for, but probably the twentieth proposal I’ve completed. Every publisher has specific things they want to see in a proposal. So, when I submitted S & C I had to […]

Recently, I told a fellow-writer after reading his Facebook posts, “So, is your goal to sell books?” Every post he hoped would create discussion turned toward an undesirable direction. He is learning what all authors struggle with on social media. What can they post that gets many responses without setting off hate bombs? My husband, […]

A Lesson in Plot Twists from Supergirl

A different twist. That’s what I see every week as I watch Supergirl. The original trailer didn’t appeal to me but my husband was intrigued. Week after week it draws me in. Supergirl is not Superman. Both are from Krypton and she is his cousin. But beyond that the similarities stop. She has a group around her who know she is Supergirl. She is learning how to use her super powers and find her identity. She was sent to earth at the same time as Superman to be his protector when she was 13. However, her spacecraft was trapped in a time warp for 25 years. When she finally arrived on earth Superman is an adult and places her with a human family where she has a sister. No loner here. She knew her Kryptonian heritage and has a whole load of aliens to fight. Supergirl is not always in control of her emotions. She gets jealous, flustered and fights with her sister. Her alter ego Kyra Danvers works for a Media Company that is in direct competition with the Daily planet. She is not a reporter but the executive assistant to CatCo Media’s owner and CEO. Her tough female boss isn’t fooled by her glasses disguise. (Don’t you just love it.)

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All these differences create a new Super world. One audiences are captivated by. The ssame applies to getting your novel out to the masses. Take a common storyline and mix it up. DiAnn Mills has lots of strong female characters who are FBI, CIA and Secret Services agents and lots of other typical manly roles. The adventures speed along like Die Hard movies and crash to a dramatic conclusion.

A different twist in your novel

My debut historical novel has a rancher who sends for a mail order bride. There are many books with the mail order bride theme. My bride however is a doctor hiding form her past. The rancher is raising an orphan niece and there are characters who aren’t who they claim to be. The mail-order idea has been converted to a more modern setting by several authors with cyber dating, and marriage arrangements for material gain.

Every mystery has a problem to solve but the problem and the course of action have limitless possibilities. Some writers like Barndilyn Collins are heavy on research so lots of details educate as well as entertain the reader.

While others are sprinkled with humor and dorky characters. Check out Linda W.Yezak’s The Cat Lady’s Secret.

Crime novels can be written from any viewpoint even the family pet. We know romance novels always end with a couple finding true love. The journey to happily ever after has to have challenges that lend themselves to lots of “what if” moments. Otherwise its just—boring.

What novel have you read lately that surprised you with its delightful twists?